THE tale of a tennis dad gone mad will unfold in a French court today when the father of two teenage players stands trial for drugging 26 of his children’s opponents and causing the death of one.

In a case that shocked the tennis world when it broke in 2003, Christophe Fauviau, 46, a former army helicopter instructor, admits that he slipped tranquillisers into the drink bottles of opponents of his 16-year-old son, Maxime, and Valentine, his daughter, who was 13 at the time.

Pierre Blazy, Fauviau’s lawyer, will tell the court in Mont-de-Marsan, near the Pyrenees, that he had, however, “come off the rails” and had no intention of causing the death of Alexandre Lagardère, a 25-year-old teacher, who died in a car crash. M Lagardère fell asleep at the wheel after a match with Maxime while under the influence of Temesta (Lorazepam), the anti-depressant that Fauviau administered in large doses to his children’s opponents over at least three years, prosecutors say.

“He admits all his faults and he is overwhelmed by the death of Lagardère,” M Blazy said. “At the time of the events, he was mentally in an especially bad way . . . I would not want a sick man to be passed off as Machiavelli. He should have been having medical treatment but he wasn’t.”

Experts are to testify whether the crash was directly caused by the tranquilliser.

Fauviau, whose case has come to symbolise the excesses of parents who try to push their children to tennis stardom, may face a 20-year prison term if convicted of administering a harmful substance and unintentionally causing death. His lawyer will plead that he was suffering from diminished responsibility and that there was “no logic” to his actions.

Two days before the fatal crash, in the summer of 2003, Fauviau had come under suspicion when police confirmed the foundation of complaints from two other players in the Basque Coast-Béarn-Landes (BCBL) league, which covers the Gascony region. As M Lagardère had done, they complained of suffering inexplicable drowsiness and dizziness. One player reported finding Fauviau tampering with his water bottle.

Fauviau, who had devoted his life in early retirement to promoting his children’s tennis careers, is alleged to have drugged five young men who played against Maxime, described as an average local player. He devoted more energy to Valentine, who was one of the top 13-year-old players in France. He is alleged to have drugged at least 21 of her opponents. In the time-honoured manner of over-ambitious tennis parents, Fauviau fell out with local tennis officials, whom he accused of failing to promote his daughter enough. Lawyers for Lagardère’s family are, however, expected to argue that officials of the local league bore responsibility because they were aware of Faviau’s actions.

Jacques Dupée, the secretary-general of the French Tennis Federation, was president of the CBBL league at the time. He said this week that the Fauviau case was an example of a phenomenon that was growing worse. “I am afraid that we are still in for unpleasant surprises. With extreme media pressure and the importance of money, some parents are ready to do anything and the consequences can be terrible,” he said.

Valentine Faviau, badly shaken by her father’s case, is at a tennis training college but has not yet emerged as a star, according to tennis insiders. Prosecutors said that neither child had been aware of their father’s criminal actions.

GAME, SET, MATCH

Damir Dokic Jelena’s father caused havoc and got into scuffles at tournaments. Called members of the Edgbaston Priory club “Nazis who supported the bombing of Yugoslavia” and was arrested for lying down in the middle of a busy road

Jim Pierce Father of Mary and known for hurling abuse at opponents. The “Jim Pierce rule” is a Women’s Tennis Association regulation banning abusive conduct on part of players, relatives and coaches. He once said: “Mary is like a finely tuned sports car. Well, I built the Ferrari and now I want the keys back.”

Stefano Capriati Trained his daughter Jennifer as a professional from an early age. Accused of treating her as a walking cash machine.

Peter Graf Nicknamed Papa Merciless, travelled regularly with daughter Steffi. Convicted of tax fraud and sentenced to three years and nine months in jail